Our aim is to support thousands of people with MS to get short breaks and respite, wherever they live and whatever their needs.
In 2010 we carried out a review of respite care, looking at what people want from respite and short breaks. Following the review, the Board decided that the MS Society should no longer directly provide respite care.
Since the decision we have working hard to transfer the Society’s four respite care centres to alternative providers, and we are now pleased to announce that the transfers of all four centres have been completed.
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The MS Society no longer directly provides respite care. The four respite care centres formerly owned and run by the Society have now transferred into new ownership.
In April 2012 Helen Ley Care Centre and Helen Ley Court in Warwickshire successfully transferred to Castel Froma, a Leamington-based charity providing specialist care for people with brain injuries, MS and other neurological conditions. Bookings at Helen Ley can be made by calling the centre on 01926 313550.
In March 2012 Brambles Care Centre in Surrey transferred to MS Respite and Care Services Ltd (an associated company of St Cloud Care plc). Bookings at Brambles can be made by calling the centre on 01293 771664.
In January 2012 Woodland Care Centre in York successfully transferred to Christchurch Court Ltd , a leading provider of rehabilitation services. Bookings at Woodlands can be made by calling the centre on 01904 430600.
In July 2011 Leuchie House in Scotland transferred to a new independent charity and continues to provide services for people with MS.
We wanted to find out if the MS Society provision of four respite care centres was working for everyone, so in 2010 we conducted a year long review with people affected by MS all over the UK.
The review looked what people actually want, how we currently provide respite care and how we support people to get it.
An outcome of the review was the Board’s decision that the MS Society should no longer directly provide residential respite care. This decision was voted for by members at our AGM in 2010.
For more detail on the review read the Respite Care Review board papers .
People told us they wanted a menu of services and they wanted more choice and control over how and when to take a break. They said they needed all kinds of breaks. This could still mean for some people traditional respite based in a care service. For others, it means accessible family holidays or an afternoon off once a week to have some free time to catch up with friends or interests or simply to rest and recharge their batteries.
The review showed us that the system of providing respite care at four centres in England and Scotland was unsustainable and inequitable.
The MS Society has a responsibility to do more for many more people living with MS, particularly those with complex needs – wherever they live in the UK – than the relatively small numbers currently using the respite care centres.
It is clear that we need to change the way we support people to get short breaks and respite, so that we can meet the needs and aspirations of many more people with MS, their families and carers.
We ultimately want to reinvest our resources into supporting many more people to get the short breaks and respite that suits them, wherever they live in the UK.
Find out more about our new approach
If you have any questions about the transfer of the centres please call 0808 800 8000 or email us at infoteam@mssociety.org.uk
You can also write to: Short breaks, MS Society, 372 Edgware Road, NW2 6ND, London.
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